The Wall Street Journal wrote:
WASHINGTON—A House ethics panel is deciding whether senior Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel is guilty of violating House ethics rules after the eight lawmakers decided to accept as fact the entire prosecution's case against him.
The panel's decision came after Mr. Rangel walked out of the hearing in protest, and it suggests he will almost certainly be found to have violated House rules.
[...]
As the trial began Monday morning, Mr. Rangel surprised lawmakers by walking out after saying he should not be required to face the trial without a lawyer at his side. Last month, Mr. Rangel parted ways with his high-powered, high-priced legal team after he ran out of campaign funds to pay them.
The panel's decision came after Mr. Rangel walked out of the hearing in protest, and it suggests he will almost certainly be found to have violated House rules.
[...]
As the trial began Monday morning, Mr. Rangel surprised lawmakers by walking out after saying he should not be required to face the trial without a lawyer at his side. Last month, Mr. Rangel parted ways with his high-powered, high-priced legal team after he ran out of campaign funds to pay them.
What does it say about the nature of US politics when a Congressman accused of ethics violations was paying his legal defense team with campaign funds, and yet the more sensational part of the story is that he walked out of his own ethics hearing after running out of campaign funds to pay them?
Edit: Although, in Rangel's defense (rimshot), it's hard to get re-elected if you've been removed from office.
Edited, Nov 15th 2010 3:45pm by Demea